Wairarapa Daily Times . [ESTABLISHED 1878] SATURDAY, AUGUST 13, 1892. THE LAND BILL.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XIII, Issue 4191, 13 August 1892, Page 2

Wairarapa Daily Times . [ESTABLISHED 1878]

SATURDAY, AUGUST 13, 1892. THE LAND BILL.

Being the extended title of the Waiiiakapa Daily, with which it is IDENTICAL.

We make no apology for returning to this subjeofc, which deserves to be considered attentivelyin two or threeof its aspects. In spite of the factitious importance with which Mr Ballance cunningly invested the division of the other niglit, we are of opinion that the Bill has yet to receive its gravest criticism, and that the objection to soma oi its proposals will by no means be limited to one side of the House. The attempted limitation of the purchase of freehold land for cash, for example, is calculated to make every taxpayer sit up and think, whatever his political colour. Some years ago -we believe it was in 1876 - the Government of the' day wished to part with a large block of land, the Piako swamp, for half-a-crown an acre, with the proviso that an additional halfcrown per aore was to be spent by. the purchasers in drainage works. There was a considerable outcry against the transaction; but the most important objection, we remember, was raised by Mr J. T. Fisber, representing a Canterbury constituency, This gentleman was one of the "Liberals" of those days; indeed, he subsequently held a portfolio as a member of Sir Georye Grey's Cabinet, But he had the sagacity to point out that if such proposals were carried into effect the Colony could not look for any land fund. We do not pretend that the Piako case is parallel with the provisions of the present Land Bill j but we quoto the expressed opinion of an old Liberal in order that we may not be accused of Party animus when we say that Mr MoKenzie's measures are calculated to destroy revenue. If the Minister of Lands succeeds' in his projects, the purchase of freehold land for each will in futuro be so rare that it need not be reckoned with. And in that case we do not see bow the Govei'fiifient cp thjnk that they are going tp get epongl) m,pn,ey tp jijjy for the administration pf jihp department. Even if permission is given for the application of perpetual lease rents to purposes of local revenue, we cannot bring ourselves to think a sufficient sum would be forthcoming.

Nevertheless the Minister is determined to discourage freehold tenure, Tp fljajie it difjjculji, however, is one Wg j fp if ojjwpoijfj is'qaite another. We l^t(e'p attempt is quite certain to f&if aiiipng British oolonisis, £* Mb OV any future time, We fanoy that the Miniate:" knows this too; for we observe him devoting hip principal energies to the creation of a system shall at all events become a formidable rival in popularity to the old-faßhionedteuure, No doubt he will be able, in time, to popularise his perpetual lease proposals; it would be odd if he could njot, stfeing that he oljfera Jan.s tp the people at a 4 per pentreptjl on value, without rc-v/ibmtipn, Atsjtractedly there is perhaps no objection to [ this, except the very important taxpayer's objection on which we have insisted, But at least let the right of purchasing be maintained iu the

Colony I To secure this, we confidently look to the intelligence and organised effort of the great political party at present in opposition. Backed as tbat party is by the comlbon sense of the people it will win in the long run, whatever may be the temporary triumph ofmere numerical strength in the House as at present constituted.

■ With regard to the Special Settlement clauses of this Bill, it has been 1 very thoughtfully shown by the Hon. Mr Etcbardson that there is no reason why the Colony should not wake up one of tea days to find that they are being applied passim; and enough has been advanced in the House to show how great the danger is under this system that speculators, Governmentpro%>, and city residents may pick the eyes out of the country. There used to be a great cry about Conservative" gridironing " in the old days, We shall see whether the practice is not quadrupled in extent in these days of " Liberal" Land Laws,